Hack the Pandemic

How might we improve the quality of life for people impacted by COVID?

Sponsored by the UNSW Faculty of Medicine and Health, in partnership with the UNSW Founders program, this 2.5-day rapid problem solving event invites big vision thinkers to come together to create innovative and sustainable solutions to improve the quality of life for people impacted by COVID-19.

Event details

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic loss of human life and suffering worldwide. Beyond a health crisis, it is a human, economic and social crisis presenting an unprecedented challenge to public health, food systems and the world of work [1].

With a share of $7000 cash prizes up for grabs, Hack participants will tackle the problem challenge:

How might we improve the quality of life for people impacted by COVID?

This event invites big vision individuals to work together to create innovative and long-term sustainable solutions to contribute to the national and global effort to tackle and recover from COVID-19 and its scientific, health, social, cultural, and economic implications.
In addition to the above contribution this event will also support our UNSW researchers in developing their entrepreneurial skills and strategies to achieve research impact. Enabling them to take back what they learned from the event and apply it to their own research.
There have already been major consequences for Australia in terms of the direct impacts of the public health crisis on health and mortality, and indirect social & economic impacts of the pandemic.
Innovative solutions can and should become more mainstream across the health sector, both as a means of addressing the urgent needs generated by COVID-19, but also as a way of re-orienting the development of the sector for the future
A Hackathon, or a ‘Hack’ is an event that brings people together to collaborate to help solve a problem within a restricted timeframe.
Working in multi-disciplinary teams, participants will generate ideas with the support of subject matter and innovation experts, and consider factors for success. Hacks conclude with a Pitch Night where teams present their final idea to a panel of judges and be in for a chance to win a prize.
There are $7000 of cash prizes to be won:
- First place $4000
- Runner Up $2000
- People’s Choice $1000
Prizes are intended to be used towards the continued development of the idea, a new idea related to the problem challenge or professional development. The prize will be split equally across all team members.
You don’t need to be a COVID expert to participate in this Hack.
Persons with experience and knowledge, and a genuine interest in the problem challenge are invited to submit an expression of interest to join this Hack.
This Hack may be of particular interest to early-mid career researchers from the Faculty of Medicine and Health, and senior FMH staff with knowledge and experience to contribute.
Others, such as clinicians, engineers, chemists, scientists, students, business experts, health economists, industry experts/mentors, legal experts, patients/consumers, regulatory experts, government, LHD/implementation are invited to submit an expression of interest highlighting relevant skill set.
During this Hack participants will hear from expert speakers and receive guidance from mentors from diverse areas of expertise as well as workshops to maximise your creative problem-solving capabilities to create innovative and sustainable solutions.
Refer to the Hack Support section to view speakers, mentors and judges supporting this Hack.
The Faculty of Medicine and Health and the UNSW Founders program are committed to the success of your ideas. All teams and individuals will be supported as appropriate to the team needs and the idea. This support may extend to other UNSW support services.
^1 Impact of COVID-19 on people's livelihoods, their health and our food systems
^2 WHO Coronavirus (COVID-19) Dashboard
^3 Gavi: VaccinesWork, History’s Seven Deadliest Plagues
^4 COVID-19 Expert Database

Hack support: Speakers, Mentors and Judges

Scientia Professor Greg Dore (Speaker)

Greg is an epidemiologist and infectious diseases physician at the Kirby Institute. He is Head of Viral Hepatitis Clinical Research Program and has major interests in viral hepatitis and long COVID research and clinical care.
Dr Chantelle Ahlenstiel (Mentor)

Chantelle is a Senior Research Fellow at the Kirby Institute. She specialises in RNA therapeutics and is currently evaluating a lead therapeutic candidate for COVID-19.
Stephen Rutter (Guest Facilitator/Mentor)

Stephen Rutter is a Proud Tebrakunna man from Lutruwita. He aims to grow organisations by thinking differently. Stephen is Founder of The Scale Institute and Head of Community at Neutopia. Read more
Anne O’Neill (Mentor)

Anne has over 25 years’ experience in the health, medical research and policy sectors. She is responsible for leading the development and implementation of major policies and programs to enhance medical research capacity in NSW, and raise the profile of NSW research and development nationally and internationally. She has particular responsibility for the NSW Medical Device Fund and NSW Health Commercialisation Training Program – both have been critical to accelerating the development of NSW intellectual property and the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs in NSW.
David Almeida Cardoso, PhD (mentor)

David Almedo Cardoso has great experience in early-stage start-up companies with ambitious visions, as well as mentoring early career medical researchers looking to understand more about non-academic career pathways, the broader healthcare ecosystem and entrepreneurship.
Ian Goon (Mentor)

Ian is equally adept in the technical, commercial and social aspects of bringing innovative ideas to life. Ian is committed to driving the translation of healthcare innovations that will allow us to effectively navigate the mounting challenges we face in delivering quality, user-centred healthcare.
Steve Palmer (Mentor)

Steve is the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct (RHIP) Industry & Innovation Lead. He leads the design of industry and innovation strategy and works collaboratively with the RHIP Partners to support health technology innovation and industry engagement opportunities. Steve has extensive experience in preclinical drug development strategies, intellectual property management and technology transfer.
Professor Gail Matthews (Mentor)

Mentor Gail Matthews: Professor Gail Matthews is an Infectious Diseases Physician and Program Head, Therapeutic Research and Vaccine Program at The Kirby Institute, and is also Head of Infectious Diseases at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney. She has extensive experience in HIV, viral hepatitis, long COVID and strategic therapeutic clinical trials.
Robert Milsom (Mentor)

Robert is a Healthcare/HealthTech Industry Lead & Early Stage Start-up Business Advisor. Co-Founder at Medvine
Joseph Po (Mentor)

Joseph is a Proactive, results-driven professional with over 10 years of experience in medical research and healthcare. Experienced in developing relationships with internal/external stakeholders and KOLs including medical teams, commercial partners and research group leaders in the multidisciplinary setting.
Passionate about innovation in the healthcare and medical technology sectors.
A/Prof Rowena Bull (Mentor)

A/Prof Rowena Bull is a research scientist with expertise in immunovirology based in the School of Biomedical Sciences and the Kirby Institute UNSW. Over the last decade her research program has focused on understanding the transmission dynamics and pathogenesis of selected RNA viruses with local and global high health burden, by developing and applying cutting edge genomic methods to generate clinically relevant research outcomes.
Melissa Mail (Judge)

Melissa has over ten years experience in the areas of innovation and commercialisation and is an Investment Manager with Uniseed. Melissa is known for providing pragmatic commercial advice focusing on technology performance, aligning intellectual property assets with commercial strategy, and implementing systems to build value and drive sustainable growth.
Melissa’s strengths lie in establishing strong relationships with industry, research and government partners, delivering leading technology innovations to the market and achieving successful commercial outcomes.
Read more
Adam Bartlett (Mentor)

Adam is a Paediatric Infectious Diseases Physician at Sydney Children's Hospital and a Research Fellow at the Kirby Institute working in the field of neglected tropical diseases. He has completed a PhD evaluating the management and outcomes for adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV infection in Asia, and has ongoing paediatric HIV research across Australia and New Zealand.
Read more
Professor Phoebe Phillips (Speaker & Judge)

Phoebe is Associate Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health at UNSW.
Phoebe also leads the Pancreatic Cancer Translational Research Group and is and Deputy Director of the Cancer Clinical Academic Group, SPHERE (Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research, and Enterprise). She is internationally recognised for her ground-breaking work into pancreatic cancer and has >24 years’ experience in trying to tackle this deadly disease.
Read more
Katja Beitat (Judge)

Head of Health Tech at Cicada Innovations
Health tech ambassador and entrepreneur, Katja is a health tech ambassador and visionary supporting researchers, innovators and entrepreneurs to successfully commercialise. Katja is Founder of digital health start up Clinivid, in addition to an active mentor and coach for founders, and Director and Company Secretary of global charity Radiology Across Borders.
Sam McAllery (Mentor & Hack Team)

Sam is a Research Development Manager at the Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW. They have a specialised background in virology (HIV and Herpesviruses), with additional expertise in cell and gene therapy. Sam’s post-PhD endeavours include joining small biotech company in Singapore and has diverse experience in project management, stakeholder engagement, scientific affairs and communications.